Thanks to its economic dynamism, excellent infrastructure and the quality of its hotels, Lyon has become a major European business tourism destination.
Last updated date : 03/06/2025
Economy and higher education
- 1.4 million inhabitants in Metropolitan Lyon
- 2nd leading economic centre in France with European Gross Domestic Product ranked 2nd in France
- 2nd most developed region in France in the healthcare sector and 2nd largest university hospital in France
- 1st French city for its digital technology influence
- Leading French city in terms of new business start-ups
- 102,631 Companies Headquarters and 1500 decision making centres (Sanofi Pasteur, Bio Mérieux, Renault Trucks...)
- Leading city in 6 sectors: biotechnology, chemistry/environment, digital entertainment, innovative textiles, transport & mobility, energy transition
- 13,300 researchers and 550 laboratories in Lyon
- More than 40 international NGOs
Tourism and heritage
- 500 ha listed as Unesco World Heritage
- Capital of gastronomy
- 2nd congress city in France (ICCA - International congress and Convention Association rankings);
- 2nd French hotel capacity with19,221 rooms in Lyon Metropolis
- More than 200 meeting spaces including 4 major dedicated sites
- The Lyon Convention Centre hosts 350 events a year
- Lyon organizes around a hundred trade shows a year at its main venues
- Business travel accounted for 66% hotel bookings
- 4th French airport with direct flights to 126 destinations, 3 TGV stations and 5 motorways linking all major European cities
- Lyon Part-Dieu1st international train station in France with 140,000 passengers every day
- 2nd French city and 15th global city in the GDS-Index (Global Destination Sustainability Index)